I asked my young marketing team to 'make a relationship' with customers, they took me seriously: Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal on cheeky notifications

We’ve all been there—hungry, scrolling through food delivery apps, trying to satisfy our cravings. And among the many options, one name stands out: Zomato. And huge credit for this goes to those cheeky push notifications.

A household name in India and many parts of the world, Zomato has become synonymous with food delivery. But have you ever wondered where the name “Zomato” actually came from and what is the reason behind those push notifications that seem to be flirting with you? Deepinder Goyal, the CEO of the food tech giant, answered these questions on the latest episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix.

How was Zomato’s name born

In a conversation with comedian Kapil Sharma, Goyal shared how the name “Zomato” was born out of necessity rather than creativity. The platform’s founders had originally envisioned the name to have something to do with “tomato” — a staple ingredient in many dishes, and a word that’s easily recognisable. But here’s the twist: when they went to register the domain, tomato.com was already taken! Not to be deterred, they simply tweaked the letter and came up with “Zomato” — a name that not only worked but ended up being memorable, too. The “Z” was added for that perfect tech-savvy ring to the name, and the rest, as they say, is history.

And while Goyal didn’t spill the final details about whether it’s pronounced “Zomato” or “Zomaato,” he did confirm one thing — it’s all about how you want to say it. Just like a ripe tomato, the name has become part of the cultural fabric. The debate about the exact pronunciation, as seen in hilarious ads with cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth, only adds to the charm.

About Zomato’s cheeky notifications

That’s not all. The Zomato CEO also talked about another amusing aspect of the Zomato experience—those cheeky, flirtatious push notifications. We’ve all received a notification that says, “Your food is just 10 minutes away!” But did you ever stop to think about why Zomato’s notifications always seem to have a bit more personality?

Well, it turns out the company’s marketing team, full of youthful energy and passion, took Deepinder’s advice to heart. He had asked them to “build a relationship with the customer,” inspired by a book he read—though he himself wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. The results? A fun, almost flirtatious tone that’s become a signature of Zomato’s communication style.

“Our marketing team is very young. They don't have any background in marketing. They are passionate people. So, I briefed them one day to make a relationship with the customer. Even I didn't know what it meant. I don't have any marketing background. I read a book and it said to make a relationship with the customer. I told them. They took me seriously,” Goyal said during the show.

So, next time you get that slightly cheeky notification from Zomato, you’ll know that it’s not just about food—it’s about building a connection with you.